Govt to open shelter homes for immigrants
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 26 2023:
Chief minister N Biren has disclosed that the government has taken up steps to identify immigrants staying illegally in the state and keep them at government-run shelter homes.
Replying to a query by media persons during a press conference at CM secretariat Saturday, CM Biren said government has initiated drives to identify immigrants in view of threat they pose to the indigenes in the long run.
The cabinet sub-committee constituted to identify illegal immigrants and deport them to their native countries comprising minister Letpao Haokip as chairman and members ministers Awangbow Newmai and Th Basanta Kumar conducted a meeting with government officials and worked out steps to identify and deport illegal immigrants, he said.
According to the chief minister, how many illegal immigrants are staying in Kamjong and Churachandpur districts will be identified and kept at government run shelter homes or detention centres.
The sites for construction of shelter homes or detention centres have been finalised after discussion with the DCs concerned, Biren said adding that construction of shelter homes or detention centres will begin very soon.
Apart from urging the MLAs to help the government in the identification drive, the chief minister also appealed to rent owners to bring out illegal immigrants, if any, and keep them at government run shelter homes.
Government will maintain record for every immigrant with biometric data and issue ID cards to them while immigrants from Myanmar will be deported once the on-going conflict ends, he said.
While urging people to extend help in the identification drive against illegal im migrants, the chief minister also cautioned that rent owners could face legal action if illegal immigrants are found staying during house-to-house drive.
He also assured that identification drive against illegal immigrants will be conducted in a humanitarian manner.
Members of the state population commission constituted under ILP with 1961 as base year have been appointed and rent owners may face penalty if illegal immigrants are found staying when house-to-house drive are conducted under the Act, Biren maintained.